NRA Club Connection Summer 2019 by NRA Clubs

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA SUMMER 2019

INSIDE: pg 2: Accessiblity on Ranges Made Easy pg 14: Trump signs Bill to Improve, Increase Shooting Ranges pg 19: NRA CCW Course

President's Column: Once You Lose Your Freedoms, You Don't Get Them Back

Cover Story: Accessiblity on Ranges Made Easy

Club Spotlight: South African Small Rifle Field Shooting Association

Community Outreach Update:

1 2 4

Eddie Eagle has landed in the Parks!

Refuse To Be A Victim for your Community

Hunter Services Update:

Trump signs Bill to Improve, Increase Shooting Ranges

Training Update:

USFWS Rules Free NRA ONline Hunter Ed Course Qualifies as match dollars for State P-R Funds

NRA CCW Course

NRA Competitive Shooting: Why you need to attend NRA's Advanced Long Range School

Bruce Piatt Win's 2019 NRA Bianchi Cup

NRA-ILA Update: Virginia Special Session Adjourned, Anti-Gunners not finished

Editors: Elizabeth Bush, Managing Director Community Engagement Division ebush@nrahq.org

NRA School Shield Received IADLEST National Certification

Son Nguyen, National Manager Clubs & Associations and Range Services snguyen@nrahq.org

(800) NRA-Club (672-2582) clubs@nrahq.org

NRA Clubs & Associations • 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 • (800) NRA-Club • clubs.nra.org

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Once You Lose Your Freedoms, You Don’t Get Them Back

I Carolyn D. Meadows President

NRA OFFICERS

Carolyn D. Meadows President Charles L. Cotton First Vice President

Willes K. Lee Second Vice President

Wayne LaPierre Executive Vice President John Frazer Secretary Craig Spray Treasurer

Joseph P. DeBergalis, Jr. Executive Director,

General Operations

For news about your NRA, visit: nra.org. Share this column online at nrapublications.org.

’d like to share with you my eyewitness account of gun control in action. Every day the rights of law-abiding gun owners and legitimate firearm businesses are attacked by those who seek to erode our treasured Second Amendment. A few people are always rabble-rousers who want to take away freedoms, but they don’t reflect the popular will of the majority. I know this from personal experience. I was in Australia not long after the tragedy in 1996 that led to that nation’s repressive gun-control laws. In looking back, we must be careful to isolate and weigh the facts. The perpetrator responsible for the terrible crime was a dangerous individual whose problems were well-known before the incident. He should never have been in the position to commit his crimes. Soon after the tragedy, the Australian government moved to take away entire categories of guns from its citizens. The authorities confiscated an estimated 700,000 guns, including banned pump-action and semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, even nonworking examples beyond repair—all private property, all destroyed by the government. This was a huge over-reaction that ultimately had no practical effect other than to strip away rights from Australian gun owners because of a horrific act committed by a single mentally deranged person. For nearly two months, my husband and I traveled extensively throughout Australia. Coming from a political family in Georgia, a family of long-time hunters and shootingsports enthusiasts, I naturally was very interested in talking to Australians about what was taking place. At one sheep ranch spanning more than 10,000 acres—considered “small” there—the owner talked to us about burying his long guns. He was very upset. In a remote village, I saw about 30 people marching for gun rights. I joined right in and marched among them, gathering information the whole time I walked. These people were very disturbed. Most of their livelihoods depended on them being able to have shotguns and rifles to control dingoes (wild dogs). I visited Parliament even though it was not in session. There I talked to many members of Parliament, who were adamant about gun control. I discovered that as I traveled farther away from cities, people were very pro-gun. They didn’t think it was right. My travels also took me to Sydney, the Gold Coast, Port Arthur and the Great Barrier Reef. I had a close-up look at gun confiscation. AUGUST 2019

This is a lesson for us. What happened in Australia, confiscating guns from law-abiding citizens, made no difference to their crime rate. If someone is bent on violent crime, only direct intervention will stop them. Bad guys in Australia still use guns and knives. Banning, confiscating and restricting the rights of law-abiding people never works. It has been demonstrated throughout history that when you disarm people the result is a country of subjects, not citizens.

WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR HOMES, YOU LOSE YOUR FREEDOM. I also visited New Zealand during that period. It is a beautiful country just like Australia. New Zealand is now experiencing a similar situation in the wake of a catastrophic mass murder followed by a predictable media frenzy, which has led to the same troubling aftermath that I witnessed in its neighbor many years ago. This year New Zealand passed anti-gun legislation banning most semi-automatic firearms and instituting a “buyback” program after a terrorist attack in Christchurch. When you take away the ability of people to protect themselves and their homes, you lose your freedom and will have problems. I urge people in Australia and New Zealand to take back their freedoms. But the truth is, once you lose freedom, it’s very difficult to ever get it back. For me, the most important parts of being American are religious freedom and the right to keep and bear arms. At our founding and throughout our history the men and women who made our country what it is today put their lives on the line for these freedoms. That is a reason why we in America have a Second Amendment, and we are blessed among nations that it is protected by law as part of our Constitution. Our freedoms are worth dedicating your life to preserve, just as so many of our beloved veterans have done. In America, we are now witnessing elected officials bringing forth a great plan to dismantle our Second Amendment freedoms, piece by piece. But you and I, the NRA, are too strong to allow it.

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Summer 2019 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • 1

Feature Story

Accessiblity on Ranges Made Easy By Dr. Joseph Logar, National Manager, NRA Adaptive Shooting When range owners and management consider making their facilities more accessible to people with disabilities, they may immediately think of parking spaces and bathrooms. Those are critical points to consider, however an alternative approach may help to prioritize upgrades and avoid unnecessary expenditures. Freedom of movement is the true heart of accessibility. With this in mind, look around your range with your eye trained for anything that may obstruct movement. Stairs, curbs and ditches are apparent while coarse gravel, soft ground and surfaces made slippery with precipitation are not as obvious. Maximizing accessibility may be challenging. While there is no universal solution, there are available products that can neutralize the impact of many of the more common barriers. The Mobi-Mat® RecPath™ is a portable rollout access mat for pedestrians, wheelchairs, strollers, bicycles and ATVs produced by Deschamps Mats Systems, Inc. NRA Adaptive Shooting Programs’ focus is on how this product can be used to increase range access for people with all types of disabilities. The stable and well defined travel lane created by the RecPath is beneficial to everyone from the person using crutches temporarily after injuring an ankle to those that use no assistive device but have balance concerns secondary to Parkinson’s, weakness or fatigue. Working in cooperation, NRA Range Services and Adaptive Shooting programs had the opportunity to see the RecPath in action last summer when we invited a young man who uses a wheelchair out to a local range for a photo shoot. Our volunteer was very athletic with considerable upper body strength and mobility but he did report significant difficulty when maneuvering his chair through the parking lot of large gravel and across ranges of soft earth. However, when those same surfaces were covered with the RecPath, he moved along with comparable ease. We were also treated to an unintended demonstration of the product’s durability when a mini-van drove right over the mat as it lay over the mixed gravel and pavement parking lot. The RecPath showed absolutely no visible wear or damage. Based upon this outing and information gathered from other sources, the NRA and Deschamps Mats Systems, Inc. have entered into an agreement making the RecPath an official NRA licensed product. As fascinating as anecdotal evidence can be, the savvy range owner will need a little more information. Representatives of Deschamps Mats Systems, Inc., Greg Scull and Sandrine Carpentier Bernard offered to provide a 2 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • Summer 2019

more detailed breakdown of their company in general and the RecPath specifically. 1.

Please provide the history of Deschamps Mat Systems/Mobi-Mat? Deschamps Mats Systems Inc. - subsidiary of Deschamps SAS, France created in 1861- has been operating from Cedar Grove New Jersey since 2001. Deschamps Mats Systems Inc. is the #1 Expert in Accessibility Mats in the US under the registered trademark Mobi-Mat®. We offer flexible, rigid, or semirigid portable roll-out matting solutions that create removable walkways and equal access for recreational users, tent flooring, parking , temporary or permanent roadways for parks, beaches and any outdoor spaces.

2. Please provide details on RecPathtm specifications: Mobi-mat RecPath is available in two colors, blue jay and brown eagle with white delineating stripes on the edges and in the middle.

The RecPath mats come in widths of five and 6.5 feet and in lengths of 16.5, 33, 50 and 100 feet. Also, RecPath rolls are easily connected end-to-end thanks to their sliding end-connectors which makes the trail length options virtually endless.

The mat weighs only 0.27 lbs/sqft (1.3 Kg/m²), facilitating installation and retrieval of a 50 foot long section by two persons in minutes.

Mobi-mat also offers an Ad Mat Panel which is fully customizable with the logo of your club or range. Also available is the officially licensed NRA Adaptive Shooting Program logo.

3. Can you describe the suggested use of your product on shooting ranges? On shooting ranges, the Mobi-mat RecPath offers a portable, quickly installed pathway to create a firm, non slip, wheelchair-friendly surface over unstable ground like gravel, grass, and dirt. Its light weight and easy installation make RecPath a quick solution when access is needed for portable stands and different shooting applications. 4. What can a range expect to spend to purchase your product? The standard five foot wide RecPathstarts at $8 /sqft meaning that a 5’ X 50’ section will cost approximately $2,019. 5. Does your product offer any warranty? What is the anticipated durability (seasonal, wear/tear, upkeep)? The product is warranted for two years and is very durable. Made of 100% recycled polyester, the RecPath mat resists mildew, UV Radiation and temperatures ranging from -40 °F to +176 °F.

Range owners and decision makers interested in learning more about Mobi-Mat RecPathtm can visit either the NRA Member Benefits page at https://benefits.nra.org/licensed-products/ or go directly to Deschamps at https://www.mobi-mat-chair-beach-access-dms.com/. It is also important to remember that qualifying clubs and ranges can apply for grants through the NRA foundation to help alleviate the financial burden of costly upgrades and repairs. To learn more about this opportunity visit the NRA Foundation site at https:// www.nrafoundation.org/.

Summer 2019 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • 3

NRA Club Spotlight

A shooter from the Czech Republic takes position to f ire at gongs during the .223 World Championships 2018 held at De Oude Kraal Country Estate, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Namibia, Sweden and Australia were also represented during this event.

The South African Small Rifle Field Shooting Association, based in central South Africa, was born from a need to incorporate real-world hunting conditions into an exciting and competitive event.

Further restrictions are placed on the barrel length, scope magnification, windage and elevation adjustment, and the total weight of the rifle. The reason behind these restrictions is to make the sport fair and accessible to everybody, rich or poor.

Shooters are only allowed to use .223 Remington and .222 Remington caliber rifles during competitive events, which is a unique restriction when compared to other associations in South Africa and globally.

Shooters with common interests from the US can visit www. sasrfsa.co.za to view rules, events, targets and a lot more. The SASRFSA is hoping to get the sport started in the US as well; it already exists in Europe, and we as South Africans would love to compete against the Americans.

The SASRFSA is unique in that competitors are put to the test in conditions that simulate real-world hunting conditions. Events are held outdoors, over different types of terrain, and gongs and paper targets are set up to imitate animals as they would appear in their natural habitat. Courses are set up in such a way that shooters must use natural elements, such as trees, branches, termite mounds, etc., as well as manmade rests, when taking up their shooting position. Events are time-limited and shooters are tested in all the common shooting positions, from standing and kneeling, to sitting and prone. Thus, shooters are challenged not only in their knowledge of firearms and ballistics, but also in their adaptability and creativity in performing well while exposed to natural conditions. Many veteran hunters and shooters in South Africa already own a .223 Remington rifle, making it easy to enter into the association almost immediately. The recoil of these calibers is very forgiving and ammunition is relatively affordable, thereby extending the appeal to women and younger shooters.

4 â&#x20AC;˘ NRA CLUB CONNECTION â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 2019

Pictured above: .223 World Championships, 2018: Another shooter from Czech Republic steadies himself against a tree as he prepares to shoot at a target.

"T" is for TEAM by NRA Western Region Field Staff

The Bonner County Sportsmen’s Association (BCSA) of Sandpoint, Idaho is one of those “little gun clubs with a big heart.” They not only talk the talk, but they walk the walk when it comes to passing on to future generations the uniquely American tradition of our firearms freedoms and marksmanship. They are the hosts of the Sandpoint JR Rifle Team, and also host a two day “Youth Day at the Range” event every year in June. This event supports local 4-H shooting matches and is heavily invested in the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Hunter Education program. But they still did not feel like they were doing enough! The cadre of Range Safety Officers (RSO) for the Bonner County Sportsmen have story upon story of husbands who bring their wives up to the range for the first time and try to teach them to shoot. More often than not, it does not go well! The RSOs realized that there are a lot of women in North Idaho that want to learn how to safely handle and shoot a firearm but that they had nowhere to go and the husbands/boyfriends were not getting the job done. The BCSA had several programs directed towards youth shooters but had nothing for the lady shooters. That is when they decided to act. President Bill Moody and Lead Trainer Tom Harvill contacted NRA Field Staff with their dilemma and their desire to come up with something for women who wanted to learn to shoot. They were directed to the NRA Women On Target® (WOT) program which is a one day, ladies only, firearms clinic that focuses mainly on the fundamentals of gun safety and marksmanship. PERFECTION! Bill and Tom quickly realized that they were going to need help if they wanted to do this right, so they called master organizer Cathie Malison. Cathie is one of those ladies that could’ve organized the Desert Storm invasion and would have finished on time and come in under budget. When Cathie says she will handle something you never have to check back because it is HANDLED! She is also an avid bear and elk hunter, an ID CCW holder and an NRA Life Member. PERFECTION again! Bill, Tom, and Cathie sat down together to figure out what they wanted to accomplish. They all agreed that the goal would be to offer the best firearms training possible at an affordable cost. To do this, they decided to cap the WOT class size to ten students so that they would have a lot of hands-on instruction and coaching from the RSOs. The BCSA Women on Target team maintains a two

Reprinted with permission from Traditions Magazine

student per one RSO/Trainer Coach so that the ladies can get their questions answered quickly. They also wanted their Women on Target class to be welcoming and inviting from the moment the ladies stepped through the door. Knowing that for many, this would be their first interaction with the NRA and the BCSA, Bill, Tom, and Cathie did not want to miss the opportunity to make a great first impression. Before each WOT Clinic in Sandpoint, the classroom, range, and facility are cleaned top to bottom, all the classroom tables have tablecloths, a dish of candy and teaching aids are placed at each setting, and everything is in place before the students arrive. A catered lunch, snacks, and drinks are all provided for the students. They also wanted to provide the ladies with a chance to shoot several different firearms during the clinic, so each Range Safety Officer brought in their personal handguns in either .22, 9MM or .38 Special. There is everything from Glock, S&W, Kimber, Canik, Taurus, Colt, to Ruger’s, and Sig’s available for the ladies to try once they have shown proficiency in safe gun handling. This is sort of a “try before you buy” for the students, as not all guns fit all hands and the students can see what they like before they go to a gun shop. They also allow attendees to bring their own personal handguns if they would like coaching and instruction with the gun they already own. The best way to accomplish these lofty goals was to divide and conquer. Bill, Tom, and Cathie did just that: Cathie took over registration, advertising, lunch, snacks, and drinks. Tom took charge of the classroom instruction, the classroom set up and making sure they have enough and a variety of handguns for the students to use, as well as procuring the ammunition. And Bill took over securing the Leo Hadley Indoor Range (BCSA fully donates the use of the Indoor Range to the WOT Team!), recruiting Range Safety Officers and running the shooting portion of the clinic. Bill recruited Gene Gibson, Jim Bonn, Frank Visger, Zeb Platt and Kelly Harliker as Range Safety Officers/Trainer Coaches. The Bonner County Sportsmen’s WOT Team has several centuries of combined firearms training and experience! With all of their pieces in place, the BCSA WOT Team decided to host their first class in April of 2018. Needless to say with all their pre-planning it was a MAJOR SUCCESS! So much so, that all the ladies in the first class told all of their friends and Cathie started getting calls and emails to see when the next WOT clinic

was going to be held. They hosted another one, and the same thing happened! So instead of trying to fight it, the BCSA team decided to host one WOT clinic a month for the foreseeable future! “We must be doing something right because the demand for this clinic is growing,” said Cathie. “The women that attend have been telling family and friends, and we have not had to do much advertising to fill our classes.” Each clinic starts with over four hours of training in the morning, where the women are taught about the parts of a firearm and how they function, how to safely handle a firearm, as well as how to load and unload several different types of firearms. Then, the ladies get nearly two hours of trigger practice. “They start by loading one round from the sitting position, then multiple rounds from sitting position. Then they shoot from the standing position, again starting with one round and progressing to multiple rounds; they do this with each caliber,” said Tom. “Each class shoots a brick of 22LR, about 500 rounds of 9mm, and 200 rounds of 38 special. They get trigger time!” The women that come to the clinics chose to attend for different reasons. Some want to learn how to improve their shooting and handling skills, while others have never touched a firearm and want to learn the basics. “The majority of women say that they attend for personal safety. Knowing the basics about firearms has also been an important reason to take the class. Many women have firearms in the home, as their spouse and/or older children are shooters or hunters. Knowing how to handle a firearm properly should they be exposed to one is a priority,” said Cathie Malison. Others use the clinic as an opportunity to shoot a variety of firearms to find one that fits them well, and that they will be comfortable using. With the Bonner County Sportsmen’s Association donating the use of the indoor range, and a crew of volunteers, the cost per student is only $30! This includes all the instruction, lunch, drinks, snacks, and ammunition. Offering the opportunity to take a low-cost, all-inclusive class has opened the shooting sports up to the women in their community, who can now learn about firearms and the shooting sports without having to make a huge investment. These clinics are empowering the women in Bonner County to feel safe being around and handling firearms. According to lead trainer Tom Harvill, “One of my personal goals is for the ladies to be safely handling firearms, hitting the target, and laughing and smiling; we have reached this goal with every class.” None of this would have been possible without the Bonner County Sportsmen’s Association, the Idaho Friends of NRA, The NRA Foundation, and the NRA Women on Target program. Support from The NRA Foundation made the range improvements possible,

allowing the Bonner County Sportsman Association to give back to their community by safely training women how to use firearms. Since 2009 the Bonner County Sportsmen’s Association has received five grants totaling over $41,000 to upgrade the Leo Hadley Indoor Shooting Range in Sandpoint, Idaho. If you are interested in hosting a Women On Target Instructional shooting clinic in your home town, please go to the NRA Website and search for WOT. It will be a lot easier if you form a team beforehand! Many hands make light work! Apply for an NRA Foundation grant for your firearms training programs, range projects and more at www. nrafoundation.org. Support the grant program by attending a Friends of NRA event near you! Find one at www.friendsofnra.org/Events.

Pictured above: BSCA WOT Team poses for a photo after their first class. Pictured below: BCSA instructor gives one-on-one help to first time student.

Community Outreach Update

Eddie Eagle Has Landed in the Parks!

Does your club work with the community to teach safety? Have you ever thought about working with your local Parks Department to promote safety? Kathleen Robinson did by partnering with her local Parks Department in Palm Coast, FL to teach the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe® Program. So far over the course of a year, she has taught over 200 children “Stop, Don’t Touch, Walk Away, Tell a Grown Up” and has even been interviewed by her local news station!

The Parks and Recreation Youth Department was happy to find an amazing volunteer to work with them to teach safety. This children’s program also gets the parents involved! Mrs. Robinson said how they “make the parents get up and dance and the children love it. Parents always thank me. They like how we’re giving them these tools”. Thanks to her volunteer work with her Parks Department, parents and children are learning how to reduce firearm accidents. When asked about why she became involved with the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe® Program, Ms. Robinson said, “My father was a police officers, so my siblings and I knew not to touch a firearm. So, I wanted to start the program with kids”. If you or your club is interested in bringing Eddie Eagle to your community by volunteering or receiving materials for your upcoming safety events, contact eddie@nrahq.org or 800-231-0752.

NRA's Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program teaches children in pre-K through fourth grade the following safety message: If you see a gun: Stop! Don’t Touch. Run away. Tell a grown up.

8 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • Summer 2019

Pictured above: Kathleen Robinson, Eddie Eagle Volunteer, with Eddie Eagle and three children who participated in the Palm Coast Parks and Recreation Youth Department program.

Summer 2019 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • 9

Community Outreach Update

RTBAV For Your Community

Does your club want to teach safety to your members or the community? Refuse To Be A Victim® is a crime prevention and personal safety seminar where you can learn how to develop multiple safety strategies to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of a criminal confrontation.

This program includes sections such as mental preparedness, the psychology of criminal predators, personal protection options, and more! Refuse To Be A Victim instructors can even tailor the seminar to best fit their audience, such as discussing safety strategies for parents and children from pre-school through high school or personal protection options for seniors, perfect for clubs just like yours! These seminars are often free or very inexpensive. Plus, your club may be eligible for a grant to finance this seminar through NRA Foundations! For more information, check out https:// www.nrafoundation.org/. Becoming a Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor is easy through our Instructor Development Workshop

10 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • Summer 2019

online at http://www.nraonlinetraining.org/ . The course begins with a complete Refuse To Be A Victim® Seminar conducted by two experienced instructors. This seminar is presented as a model to show students what a professionally presented seminar should look like. Short quizzes are built-in to each topic section. The course is at your own pace and you are assigned a real RTBAV Professor to work with. You can also contact Refuse To Be A Victim staff at refuse@nrahq.org to get a list of enthusiastic, certified instructors in your area! They may be willing to present at your club. You can also contact Refuse To Be A Victim staff at refuse@nrahq.org to get a list of enthusiastic, certified instructors in your area that may be able to present at your club!

Pictured below: Students taking a Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor Course.

Frequently Asked Questions How do I find a seminar? o Search your zip code on the RTBAV website. If you can’t find one, please contact refuse@nrahq.org. How do I become an instructor? o You can attend an Instructor Development Workshop (IDW ) or take the online course offered twice a month. Are there still women-only seminars? o Yes. If you cannot find one in your area, you are able to request it. Are firearms discussed in seminars? o No. There is a separate one page firearm supplement that may be handed out at seminars if a participant chooses that as a means of personal protection. Is this a self-defense course? o No. Self-defense and personal protection options are discussed in the seminar though to give the participant options of what works best for them. Is there free training? o Free training is available to active law enforcement officers. I’m already an instructor for (another) NRA program. Am I qualified to teach this? o No, you must be a certified RTBAV instructor. I’m a Training Counselor (TC). Can I instruct this course? o No. Only certified RTBAV instructors or Regional Counselors are eligible to instruct the course and instructor course.

Summer 2019 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • 11

Hunter Services Update

USFWS Rules Free NRA Online Hunter Ed Course Qualifies As Match Dollars for States’ P-R Funding FAIRFAX, VA - Underscoring the NRA’s $3 million investment in hunting’s future in creating the most comprehensive, free online hunter education program nationwide, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced state wildlife agencies now may claim a dollar value of the NRA’s Free Online Hunter Education Course as in-kind match dollars to access federal Pittman-Robertson (P-R) grant funds. The move marks a major win for the NRA and state wildlife agencies, which rely on the P-R dollars administered by the USFWS’ Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Division (WSFD) for their fish and wildlife conservation programs, and is a giant step forward in bolstering states’ hunter recruitment efforts and the national NRA-backed R3 movement (Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation). The new USFWS policy comes after a lengthy internal review of a 2017 NRA proposal requesting that the USFWS Joint Federal-State Task Force on Federal Assistance Policy consider the free course as an in-kind third-party contribution. In permitting this universally-applicable match under the U.S. Department of The Interior’s Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, the USFWS Solicitor’s Office declared a state’s match for a WSFR grant indeed may be in the form of cash or an in-kind third-party contribution based on its fair market value (FMV)—providing it is not derived from another federal grant program or has not been counted as a match for another federal grant. In the case of the NRA course, the grantee seeking the 12 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • Summer 2019

in-kind match may cite the cost of commercially available courses as FMV documentation. “Thanks to the USFWS policy, state agencies now benefit from the course by accruing match dollars while American hunters, and their families, can enjoy the best online hunter education for FREE,” said Peter Churchbourne, a Director with the NRA Hunters’ Leadership Forum, who was instrumental in getting the USFWS to embrace the NRA course. “This course is one of the biggest things the NRA has ever done for hunting,” he continued. “Current for-profit online courses offered by the state through third-party vendors do not qualify for even one in-kind match dollar because hunters are charged for the course. But the NRA course is free so each time a hunter completes it, the course’s value can be used by the state agency to apply for their PR funds. It’s a WIN-WIN for everyone!” Launched in 2017 in partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC), the free NRA Online Hunter Education Course is also offered in Connecticut, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and West Virginia. On July 1, the NRA will welcome Kentucky to the mix for a total of eight participating states. The NRA’s goal is to have the program available in all 50 states, making hunter education universally free of charge. As the organization that spearheaded America’s first hunter safety course in 1949, offering free

online hunter education was the NRA’s next step. The program’s timing is critical based on recent national surveys showing declines in hunter numbers. To help reverse this trend, NRA Hunter Services began assessing the hunter education landscape in 2015. It found most programs were not engaging, were available on limited dates and, for many hunters were costly. A hunter who missed a free state-run course offered by volunteer hunter instructors had to pay for courses offered by for-profit businesses costing up to $29.99, often posing a barrier to hunter recruitment for families introducing multiple children to hunting. The solution: Develop an NRA online course, offer it for free and tailor it to meet every state’s requirements for adoption in all 50 states. Using curriculum guidelines established by the International Hunter Education Association, the course consists of a 15-chapter online sequence featuring the science of Instructional Design. Each chapter ends with a 10-to-20-question assessment to reinforce material. Upon completion, which takes 7.5 hours, students take a 60-question test that evaluates their overall course knowledge. State wildlife agencies often require a “field day” to test firearm and other competencies to complete state requirements for final certification.

pay for hunter education so in providing the bestquality state-run course, we were looking to spend about $30,000 to upgrade our program,” added Lance Meek, Senior Information & Education Specialist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife. “The free NRA online course immediately put more money in my agency's pocket by saving us the cost of maintaining our own hunter education course. The fact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it now qualifies for P-R match dollars frees up license money allowing us to provide other services to our hunters.” The course goes far to support the R3 movement to engage new and lapsed hunters while boosting hunter funding for state wildlife agencies that rely on hunters’ dollars to advance vital wildlife conservation goals. “This course is just another example of the dedication the NRA has to the American hunter and adds to the already long list of programs the association produces for the benefit of sportsmen, sportswomen and the industry as a whole.” To preview the Free NRA Online Hunter Education Course, visit www.NRAHE.org. For information on getting it approved for use in your state, email hservices@nrahq.org or call 800-492-4868.

“It was a game changer both financially and in terms of aiding hunter recruitment when we made the strategic move to be the first state agency to partner with the NRA in launching its free online hunter education program,” said Bill Cline, Hunter Safety and Public Shooting Range Section Leader for the Florida FWCC. “In addition, the NRA course ensures we are providing new hunters with the best, most comprehensive instruction available that is not only free but convenient and accessible to all hunters and their families.” “In Oklahoma, we don't want hunters to have to Summer 2019 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • 13

Hunter Services Update

Trump Signs Bill to Improve, Increase Shooting Ranges By Chris Chaffin

On May 10, 2019, President Trump Signed H.R. 1222, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (TPMTS) into law. It amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (P-R) “to facilitate the establishment of additional or expanded public target ranges in certain states.” Specifically, the changes to P-R provide financial incentives to state wildlife management agencies to build or expand shooting ranges in that it lowers their required “matching share” from 25 percent down to 10 percent. And, it increases the time period in which the grants (funds) remain available—now, up to five years. Both aspects provide significant stimulus for new and improved shooting ranges. As shooting is widely held to be a prominent factor in developing hunters, and taxes generated from sales of both hunting and shooting equipment and supplies directly benefit wildlife conservation via the P-R program, TPMTS is reason for a double-sided celebration for America’s sportsmen and –women. NRA’s Managing Director of Recreational Programs and Ranges, Liz Bush, said, “This newly signed bill will help further NRA’s cooperative efforts with state fish and wildlife agencies in our shared mission of providing more opportunities for the American public to have a place to shoot.” 14• NRA CLUB CONNECTION • Summer 2019

Reprinted with permission from NRA-HLF

Representing all the state wildlife management agencies through the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), Ed Carter, President of AFWA and Executive Director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said, “AFWA is pleased to see the passage of the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (HR 1222). This bipartisan bill allows more flexibility for state fish and wildlife agencies to use their monies for the recruitment of sportsmen and women, and hopefully attract more Americans to the outdoors in the process.” NRA’s Public Range Fund Going Strong NRA has long recognized the need for firearms training and, since 2009, has provided its own stimulus for more shooting ranges through its Public Range Fund (PRF). PRF is a “…matching grant program [that] encourages city and county governments, and state or federal agencies, to work with NRA on efforts to build and improve public ranges across the United States. At the NRA's sole discretion, grants are awarded to assist with the acquisition, development and improvement of public shooting facilities. Grants can also be awarded to assist qualifying agencies or local governments with projects designed to improve community relations and to address environmental issues related to range operations.”

Since its inception a short 10 years ago, 88 public ranges have been funded nationwide by NRA’s PRF grants, totaling a significant investment of $1.9 million. In 2018 alone, nine new projects were funded, with a total of $143, 975.00 given to build and improve new public shooting facilities. Bush reported that the PRF program doesn’t have the exact number of shooters who have benefitted from PRF grants, as the final reports are typically provided at the conclusion of construction at the grand opening of each project. But, she said, “It is safe to say hundreds of thousands of shooters have access to the 88 public ranges built with financial assistance from the NRA Public Range Fund.”

About the author: Chris Chaff in has been an outdoor communicator, educator and partnership manager for more than 40 years. On the national scene, he has represented several prominent companies in the outdoor community and served two terms as treasurer of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), eventually taking on the roles of vice-president, president and chairman of the board. In 2007, he launched Chaff in Communications, Inc., a communications consulting company focusing on the outdoors. In 2012, with support from the Outdoor Adventure Dream Giveaway, Chaff in founded and currently manages the Outdoor Adventure Conservation Fund, a Florida non-prof it established to encourage and facilitate more people participating in traditional outdoor activities.

Bush also indicated that the passage of H.R. 1222 will enable the NRA to re-examine PRF and “… make adjustments to our Public Range Fund application and requirements to reflect the new

Follow NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum on Twitter @HuntersLead.

10 percent match for state agencies working with Pittman Robertson funds for the purposes of building and improving public shooting ranges.”

Photo credit: Bill Butcher/USFWS Northeast: Law enforcement off icers take target practice at an outdoor shooting range in Glastonbury, Conn. A new bill expands opportunities for improving existing shooting ranges and adding new ones.

Range development, training and shooting opportunities got a nice boost in May. Sportsmen actively should look for opportunities to promote new range construction and utilize both NRA’s PRF and state wildlife agencies’ programs to help recruit, reactivate and keep current shooters and hunters active.

https://www.nrahlf.org/

Summer 2019 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • 15

THE NATIONAL POLICE SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE RETURNING TO MISSISSIPPI! It’s official: the National Police Shooting Championships (NPSC) has a new home, and we are returning to Mississippi. The Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy in Pearl will be the new host location for the NPSC. “We are very excited to be returning to Mississippi,” said Glen Hoyer, director of the NRA’s Law Enforcement Division. “I know that many of our law enforcement officers are looking forward to our return to Mississippi and I hope they will join us at Pearl.” For more information about the 2019 NRA National Police Shooting Championships, visit npsc.nra.org. To book accommodations at the 2019 host hotel – The Hilton Jackson on East County Line Road – where the NPSC tuition-free training, banquet and other special events will take place, visit bit.ly/2019-NPSC-Hotel. NPSC competitors are eligible for a special rate and free breakfast at The Hilton Jackson.

2 Summer 2019 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • 17

Training Update

While the number of states that have embraced Constitutional Carry is at an all-time high, most still require law-abiding citizens to obtain a permit before they can legally carry a handgun. Fortunately, once requirements are met—with the exception of a few very firearm-restrictive states—most states have made it relatively easy to be approved for a carry permit. However, the CCW application process itself can be confusing, as requirements vary from state to state when it comes to satisfying training components. Ambiguity by instructors about exactly which courses are necessary for a student to successfully apply for and obtain a permit can open up future liability if he or she has not properly trained an applicant. For instance, a former student who found it necessary to use a firearm for self-defense might be asked, “Who trained you? What course did you take?” So what’s the answer? The new NRA CCW Course, which has been designed by NRA Instructors for NRA Instructors and their students. Instructor Course The Instructor’s course is standardized, regardless of where it’s taught. This two-day course has both classroom and range time components. Prospective instructors must demonstrate not only how have they mastered the material, but that they can also teach it. They must also pass a challenging marksmanship test as well. To date, the pass rate stands at approximately 75 percent. Those who successfully pass the Instructor Course will earn the new NRA CCW Instructor credential and be qualified to teach the NRA CCW Course to students. An instructor with this credential has the added benefit of being more searchable on the web than those who do not, as the terms “NRA CCW Course” and “NRA CCW Instructor” are among the most popular search phrases when it comes to firearms training. Student Course The Student course is divided into 10 modules and will vary, depending on where they take it. An Instructor teaches the modules deemed necessary by the state in which the course is offered. Instructors also have the option of teaching additional modules (if requested by a student). Course length varies from one hour to 16 hours (depending on state and location). Certain states have their individually mandated courses of fire and/or their own non-NRA legal module. Such information can be ascertained by NRA CCW Instructors in the NRA Instructor portal. Modules successfully completed by a student will be displayed on the course certificate, which the student will use as proof of training when he or she applies for a CCW permit in their state. Thanks to is modularity, the course is both “universal and state specific.” This course is not designed to take the place of NRA’s Basics of Pistol Shooting (BOPS). BOPS is designed for beginners who simply want to learn more about the different types of handguns and how they operate. NRA CCW is designed for those who do not yet have a permit but wish to apply for one. Whether new to firearms, experienced or somewhere anywhere between, the individual will discover that the Student Course is an effective path to that end. The course is designed to meet the minimum requirements mandated by the state where it's offered in order to apply for a permit. In some cases, at the instructor’s discretion, additional modules can be offered. 18 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • Summer 2019

NRA’s Education and Training division began developing this curriculum in 2017. The first NRA CCW Instructor Course was taught at the 2018 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Dallas, Texas. Since then, for about one year, our Mobile Training team has traveled the country teaching the instructor course. There are now approximately 150 NRA CCW Instructors nationwide. Beginning this week (date is TBD), this cadre has begin training new instructors and students alike. Please check www.nrainstructors.org for a course near you! Our goal was to create a single, modular course that was both “universal and state specific.” It was important that the course name be self-explanatory. This new credential will be valuable to all firearms instructors. The student course will vary, based on where it's being taught. But it will meet the requirements, set forth by each state, to apply for a CCW permit! Disclaimer: States can, and often do, change their requirements for CCW permits. With help from ILA, NRA E&T will do its best to stay up to date on these changes and update the material accordingly. If/when a student’s application for permit is denied on basis of training, we will take immediate action to update the material.

NRA Training Regions 4 3 8

Region 1 – Northeast

Region 2 – Great Lakes

Region 3 – North Central Region 4 – Northwest

5 7

Region 5– Mid-Atlantic Region 6 – Southeast

Region 7 – South Central Region 8 – Southwest

State and Regional Training Counselors will be tasked with assisting HQ in communicating with Instructors and Training Counselors in their areas of responsibility. They will be helping, not directing. Our outstanding NRA Range Safety Officers, Instructors, and Training Counselors will still be able to call HQ directly as in the past. Region 1 (Northeast) - James Grammenos of New Jersey Region 2 (Great Lakes) - Brian Kapnick of Illinois Region 3 (North Central) - Darin Van Ryswyk of Iowa Region 4 (Northwest) - Bruce Bowler of Alaska Region 5 (Mid-Atlantic) - James Sheckels of North Carolina Region 6 (Southeast) - Dennis Doll of Florida Region 7 (South Central) - Ralph Riggs of Oklahoma Region 8 (Southwest) - Michael Abramovich of Arizona Visit www.nrainstructors.org for more information!

Summer 2019 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • 19

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Why You Need To Attend NRA’s Advanced LongRange School by John Parker, Shooting Sports USA Managing Editor

First rule of long-range: Know what you are doing and learn the fundamentals before spending big bucks on gear. And know the value of a 100-yard zero! Learning the difference between accuracy and precision, along with everything in-between, can sound daunting when you are just starting out in long-range shooting. As such, you need top-notch instruction. Enter the NRA’s new Long-Range Schools, conducted by NRA Competitive Shooting staff. These one-day courses are designed for entry- to intermediate-level students using their own firearm. Available in two flavors, Beginner and Advanced, these schools are currently being held at Peacemaker National Training Center in Glengary, WV. Given the success the program has enjoyed this year thus far, there are plans to expand the classes nationwide in the future. Recently, I attended the NRA Advanced Long-Range School, along with my usual partner in crime when venturing to Peacemaker, Shooting Illustrated’s very own Evan Brune. First lesson: long-range rifle is more fun with a friend. On a *very* rainy Sunday in May, we learned more about the nuances of long-range shooting from a team of experts then we could have ever expected to learned on our own. (Read Evan’s account of the school here.) Rifles For this outing, I used the Devil Dog Arms Hog XLR chassis rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor (read my range review of this rifle). Topping the rifle was the Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24x50mm with MOA reticle. Usually I prefer a MILbased scope, but I had been itching to try out the new Devil Dog after eyeballing it on the rack in Peacemaker’s pro shop, and this one already had the Zeiss on it and most importantly—it was already zeroed and ready to go. Brune was shooting the Daniel Defense Delta 5 in .308 Win., which proved to be eye-opening for him (read his review). As for an optic, he chose the Leupold Mark 5HD 22 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • Summer 2019

Reprinted with permission from Shooting Sports USA

5-25x56mm with MOA reticle. You can see our full gear lists at the bottom of this article. The 100-Yard Zero Once you have your entire long-range rifle system figured out (rifle, optics, ammo), the next critical step for successful long-range shooting is knowing why you are missing. The “why” is critical. If you have problems nailing center at 100 yards, the problem will be amplified as you move further in distance. Therefore, sitting at the bench until you are printing tiny groups at 100 yards is a mustdo. Think about it, if you can’t do it at 100 yards, how is that going to translate at 1000 yards? It could even be dangerous to not have a good zero at 100 yards. Be smart, and learn to shoot your rifle to its maximum potential on the bench, and you will thank yourself later. Why Your Optic Matters Plain and simple, if you want to succeed in any type of precision rifle competition, you have to know how to adjust “inside the glass,” meaning you need an optic and reticle combination that allows you to compensate based on impacts seen through the scope. Say you are shooting a PRS stage with the clock ticking, you don’t have the time to look at a spotting scope to see your impact. It pays to have good glass— you are much better off with something you can clearly spot impacts with, so you can make your adjustments. This doesn’t necessarily mean that a more expensive optic is better, rather one that YOU are comfortable with, and allows you to properly compensate for your misses, is best. External Ballistics Here is where the class really delved into the “advanced” portion of instruction, after covering how to set up a proper long-range rig and sound marksmanship principals. The impact of environmental factors on the bullet, from muzzle to target, can fill an entire book. Our instructors shared examples gleaned from a collective lifetime of experience, which is the kind of instruction you can’t find by reading articles or perusing forum posts online, or watching a video on YouTube.

Long-range shooters *must* understand two key environmental factors if they want to connect like a pro: drop compensation and wind compensation. The advanced class goes in-depth on these two topics. Also covered are broad concepts like air density, altitude, angle, temperature, hit probability, multiple wind speeds and more. Additionally, classroom instruction zeroed in on easy-to-learn but hard-to-master techniques such as reading mirage through your scope, and how to handle advanced shot angle scenarios. Bottom Line The above is just a small sampling of what you are in for when attending an NRA Long-Range School. At only $350 for the one-day class, this advanced school represents one of the best bargains available for intermediate long-range shooters looking for quality instruction. It isn’t just the money, it is also the time factor that makes this class unique. The amount of information stuffed into the eight hours of class time is just right, not too much classroom—but enough so that you will feel well-informed before hitting the range for the second portion of the class. You will leave the school with the confidence to advance in long-range rifle shooting. Instruction on the proper use of the Kestrel weather meter to “true” your rifle is a logical next step. There is an upcoming NRA Long-Range School on Saturday, October 5 at Peacemaker. To register visit http://events.r20.constantcontact. com/register/event?oeidk=a07efz593hw11d240f5& llr=chaiuhjab

Parker’s Gear—6.5 Creedmoor Devil Dog Arms Hog 6.5 Creedmoor Carbon XLR Chassis. $4,995, DevilDogArms.com. Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24x50mm ZMOA-1. $1,099.99, Zeiss.com. Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 140-grain ELD Match. $29.99 per 20-round box, Hornady.com. Seekins 30mm Scope Rings. $129, SeekinsPrecision.com. Magpul Pic Rail Bipod. $109.95, Magpul.com. Armageddon Gamechanger bag. $109, ArmageddonGear. com. Brune’s Gear - .308 Win. Daniel Defense Delta 5 .308 Win. $2,199, DanielDefense. com. Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm MOA. $2,599, Leupold. com. Federal Gold Medal Match .308 Win. 175-grain MatchKing. $33.95 per 20-round box, FederalPremium. com. Leupold Mark 4 35mm Scope Rings. $249.99, Leupold. com. Warne Skyline Bipod. $379.99, WarneScopeMounts.com. Phoenix “Tony Bag of Donuts” Shooting Bag. $54, PhoenixShootingBags.com. Extras Zeiss Victory RF Binoculars 10x54. $3,599.99, Zeiss.com. Swarovski ATS 65 Spotting Scope. $2,520, SwarovskiOptik.com. Real Avid Smart Drive 90 Bit Set. $99.99, RealAvid.com. Propper Expandable Backpack. $99.99, Propper.com.

Evan Brune shooting the Daniel Defense Delta 5 in .308 Win.

Bruce Piatt Wins 2019 NRA Bianchi Cup by John Parker, Shooting Sports USA Managing Editor Reprinted with permission from Shooting Sports USA

It was a close victory for Piatt, who edged out last year’s champion, the Army Marksmanship Unit’s SFC Adam Sokolowski 179X-178X. Bruce Piatt, the 2019 NRA Bianchi Cup Champion was excited to win this match for the first time in a decade. Photo by John Rickards

“It feels great to come back and win the Bianchi Cup again after 10 years. It’s just such an awesome feeling,” he says.

A total of 136 shooters from nine countries attended the Bianchi Cup this year, hailing from 42 different states and nine countries. The match was held at the iconic Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club in Hallsville, MO. The victory marks Piatt’s sixth Bianchi Cup crown, previously winning in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2006 and 2009. His score of 1920-179X was a single X ahead of last year’s champion, SFC Adam Sokolowski of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU)—secured him yet another Cup for his trophy room. After sitting out last year to recover from shoulder surgery, Piatt returned to Missouri confident in 2019. Hot off the heels of his win at Louisiana’s annual Crawfish Cup in April, Piatt was in prime position to take this year’s action shooting crown. “After taking a year off because of the injuries, coming back to the Bianchi Cup and winning is awesome,” says Piatt. On day one his performance suffered during at the Practical—but he did not let that deter him. “It was totally unexpected. I didn’t feel good the first day and dropped a few Xs. I knew the other guys were ahead of me, but I did well on the Mover the last day.” Runner-up SFC Adam Sokolowski completed the match with a score of 1920-178X. Last year, Sokolowski made history as the first shooter to complete a Bianchi trifecta in the modern age, after winning the overall Bianchi division as well as the Metallic and Production titles in previous years. Carl Bernosky finished third with a score of 1920-175X. Additionally, he netted the Bianchi Senior Championship. Bernosky, well-known as one of the most talented high-power rifle shooters of all time, was on top of his game, finishing with a perfect score six points ahead of the next. One of the all-time greats in competitive shooting, Bernosky is one shooter that we should all try to emulate. Eighteen-time Bianchi Cup Champion Doug Koenig finished in fourth place with a score of 1918-180X. He uncharacteristically dropped two points at the difficult Moving Target stage, denying himself a perfect 1920. With the dignity and grace to be expected of such a distinguished sportsman, Koenig presented the Cup to his friend Piatt at the awards ceremony. 24 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • Summer 2019

Something to note, all four shooters mentioned above garnered clean 480-48X scores for the Barricades and the Falling Plates. Piatt’s equipment includes a Caspian Arms 1911 chambered in .38 Super that has been customized for Bianchi Open division. The pistol sports a black nitride finish by H&M Metal Processing. As for his optic, Piatt opts for the Burris Red Dot XTS-135. His ammo loads include Sierra 115-grain JHP bullets, Starline .38 Super brass and Vihtavuori N320 Powder. Piatt gives much of the credit to his success on the firing line to the gear he uses. “When you’re into your final stage with other competitors in contention of winning, the tension is high. That’s when I have to keep the fight between me and the targets,” says Piatt, adding, “All of my equipment ran flawlessly, which is a testament to my sponsor relationships which are some of the longest lasting in the industry. I cannot thank them enough.” Former NRA Bianchi Cup Coordinator Damien Orsinger weighed in on Piatt’s victory. “Bruce’s dedication to the sport of NRA Action Pistol is hard to match. The sport is lucky to have such a great ambassador.” Tim Yackley, who has won the Bianchi Junior Championship many times previously as well as winning the 2018 NRA World Shooting Championship, finished this year’s Cup with a score of 1918-169X, placing him fifth in the overall aggregate. Yackley’s younger brother Sean took up his brothers mantle in the Junior standings, taking the top Bianchi Junior honors with a score of 1896-148X, 14 points ahead of runner-up Jonah Avenell. The younger Yackley cleaned the Falling Plate event with 55Xs—the only Junior shooter this year to perform such a feat. Tempe, AZ, police firearms instructor Kyle Schmidt netted the Bianchi Metallic Cup with a score of 1905-137X. The win marks a second division title for Schimdt, the Production Cup Champion in 2010 and overall Bianchi Cup runner-up in 2016. He dropped a few points on the Practical Event and the Mover, but rallied with a perfect score at the Barricades to take the top spot 13 Xs over second place Walter Johnson. Enoch Smith, a two-time Bianchi Production division winner, claimed third place in Metallic this year scoring 1902-144X. In Production, the AMU’s Sgt. Anthony Heinauer tied with longtime Bianchi Cup shooter Rob Leatham at 1876-131X. To break the tie, match officials turned to the scorecards, looking at the X-counts per target at each event.

At the Practical, Heinauer had five Xs over Leatham on his fourth target—giving the Army shooter his first Bianchi Production division victory. Both shooters struggled with different stages. It was the Mover for Heinauer, dropping several points to finish with 452-22X, contrasted with Leatham who finished the difficult event with 478-31X. However, Heinauer’s performance at the Practical and Falling Plates secured him the victory, finishing both events with 10-point margins over Leatham. As for the Women’s Championship, it was Cherie Blake of Australia once again taking the top honors. Blake, who was the 2017 Bianchi Women’s Champion and last year’s runner-up. She snagged the title with a commanding score of 1906-153X, including two perfect performances at the Practical and Falling Plates. Blake’s score placed her 15th in the overall standings and provided a deep cushion to runner-up Julie Golob’s score of 1829-133X. Although perfect at the Barricades, 450 scores at the Practical and Falling Plates, and 449-16X at the Moving Target event wasn’t enough to keep up with Blake’s tough competition. Rounding out the top three women shooters at Bianchi this year was Sydney Barlett (née Surgi) with 1817-111X. She had the highest Mover score of all women shooters this year with 471-19X. Be sure to join us next May in Missouri for the 2020 NRA Bianchi Cup.

Pictured above: The top three women Bianchi shooters (l. to r.) Julie Golob, Cherie Blake and Sydney Barlett. Photo by John Rickards

Summer 2019 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • 25

NRA-ILA Update

UPDATE

Virginia: Special Session Adjourned, Anti-Gunners Not Finished Despite his failed gun control agenda being defeated early on in the 2019 regular legislative session, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam called a special session to once again push for radical gun control in response to the tragic murders in Virginia Beach. During the July 9th special session, lawmakers rejected the Governor’s gun control package. Instead, House and Senate leadership directed the Virginia State Crime Commission to undertake a “systematic review” of the tragic May 31st murders in Virginia Beach along with the legislation submitted during the special session. It was irresponsible of Governor Ralph Northam to hastily call this special session in the first place, without having all of the facts and he even admitted that none of the radical gun control policies he proposed would have prevented this incident. It is clear that Gov. Northam has no real interest in pursuing meaningful, evidencebased policies to reduce crime. Rather, he simply seized this opportunity to launch a political stunt to distract from scandals involving himself and the other two statewide office holders, while trying to dismantle the constitutional rights he has long despised. Despite this setback, Gov. Northam and his gun ban allies are not finished, and these issues will be front and center as the campaign season in Virginia kicks into high gear. This special session provided a road map to what antigunners’ seek should they take control of the Virginia General Assembly this November. These attempts to weaken our rights in Virginia should also serve as a shot across the bow of gun owners nationwide, as antigun money from outside Virginia is pouring into the Commonwealth, and these efforts will be coming to your state in the 2020 elections. If you live in Virginia, we need your help this election season. And, even if you don’t live in Virginia, below are some of the ways you can help . Become a FrontLines Volunteer - NRA-ILA FrontLines™ is comprised of NRA-ILA's most dedicated volunteers, who actively work at the local, state, 26 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • Summer 2019

and federal levels to defend our Second Amendment rights. You can sign up by clicking here: https://www. nrailafrontlines.com/join. Host a Phone Bank During a Club Meeting – Making phone calls to voters in Virginia this year will not only help to ensure pro-gun voters are showing up at the polls this November, but also allow your club to get familiar with the process ahead of the 2020 elections, when they will engage in elections in their own state. Sign up to Canvass – Nothing is more effective than face-to-face interaction with likely voters, so if you live in Virginia, or any of the neighboring states, you can spend an afternoon defending freedom by going door-to-door in key election districts to speak with pro-gun voters. Join a Local Fast Action Team – Your NRA is involved in legislative fights all across the country like the one that just took place in Richmond, Virginia. By working with your state Grassroots Coordinator and joining your local fast action team, you can be mobilized at a moment’s notice to attend a state or local legislative event to stand up for our rights. To locate the Grassroots Coordinator responsible for your state, click here: https://www.nraila.org/ grassroots/frontlines-grassroots-coordinators/ If you are interested in specifically helping out with the Virginia elections this year, please contact (800) 392-8683 (VOTE) to find out how you can get involved! Pictured below: NRA members look on as legislators consider Gov. Northam’s gun control package.

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NRA School Shield Training Receives IADLEST National Certification By: Brian Goldstein, Training Manager

Founded on the premise of education and training, the NRA has a longstanding history of supporting our men and women in uniform, who are responsible for the safety of the American people. With over five million members, the NRA has more than 125,000 certified instructors – all committed to delivering important programs and services in support of public safety. When the NRA announced the creation of the NRA School Shield program in December 2012, it was clear that training would be an integral part of this initiative. In 2015, we launched our Security Assessor Training, which seeks to facilitate the vital partnership between schools and their local first responders. At the conclusion of our training, participants - predominantly law enforcement officers - are able to conduct vulnerability assessments on behalf of their respective agencies, and assist schools in recognizing security strengths, as well as potential vulnerabilities. Given the increased demand for more secure schools, our training has never been more important and requests for this vital curriculum continue to grow. To date, we have completed 47 training sessions, with at least one training in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. In June 2019, the NRA School Shield Security Assessor Training was certified by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) as part of the National Certification Program. The IADLEST National Certification Program (NCP) sets minimum standards for vendors providing police continuing education and ensures training content meets those quality standards. The standards are designed to meet or exceed any individual state certification requirements, thus ensuring that IADLEST certified training will be accepted by all participating POST organizations in the nation for training credit. Our Security Assessor Training is free to host and free to attend, thanks to the generous support of NRA Members and Supporters, including Friends of NRA. The training is ideal for school resource officers, school security officers, supervisors within community policing units, school facilities personnel, and other officials tasked with a direct responsibility for school security. As NRA School Shield continues to grow, we welcome the chance to work with any community in need who shares our commitment to protecting our children. For more information about hosting or attending one of our Security Assessor Trainings, please contact us by phone at (844) 467-7723 or via email at info@nraschoolshield. org. Additional information, including testimonials, can also be found online at www.nraschoolshield.org/ training. For more information regarding the IADLEST NCP, please visit www.iadlest-ncp.org.

30 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • Summer 2019

National Shooting Sports Month:

The Best Way to Grow the Shooting Sports

August is almost here—otherwise known as “National Shooting Sports Month,” designated three years ago by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). Whether through target shooting at a favorite range, plinking in a backyard with friends and family, competing in a match or preparing for the fall hunting season, the month-long celebration acknowledges a common passion, and calls for welcoming and mentoring new shooters into the fold as we promote safe participation in all firearm-related activities. Now the NRA—which has long promoted mentorship for those entering the shooting sports—is lending its support to this initiative, partnering with NSSF as it encourages shooting ranges, firearm retailers, public and private shooting clubs, shooting sports organizations and fish and wildlife agencies to collectively focus their attention on the fun and excitement of target shooting. To this end, hundreds of events are planned nationwide, along with many “Gearbox Giveaways.” “NRA welcomes the opportunity to partner with NSSF on this initiative, as it speaks to the core mission of NRA and its members,” said Joe DeBergalis, executive director, NRA General Operations. “Anyone who was mentored into the shooting sports understands how important it is to pay it forward, and should invite others to share in the enjoyment of firearms and hunting. It is through our qualified mentorship of newcomers that our passion and pastime will live on indefinitely.” It’s easy to take part in this initiative. Here’s how: • Join fellow sportsmen and sportswomen at the range in August for some well-deserved trigger time. Find a range near you with this NRA search tool. • Become an active participant in NSSF’s +ONE Movement, a nationwide campaign working to advance mentorship in hunting and the shooting sports by encouraging experienced shooters, hunters and firearm owners to take a new shooter to the range or field and allow them to experience first-hand what makes these pastimes so enjoyable. • Go to LetsGoShooting.org to discover the ranges and retailers in your area for this year’s celebration. • Participate in NRA’s Mentor Initiative, launched in 2015, which asks all NRA members to make a date to take new shooters to the range. • Download a copy of “NRA Guide For New Shooters” • Learn about NRA American Hunter’s “Join the Hunt” initiative in which the focus is to offer guidance to the many Americans who may become hunters but lack a proper introduction to this pastime. • Log on to NRA Shooting Sports USA’s “Coming Events” page for NRA-sanctioned competitive shooting matches. • Be an NRA Recruiter—NRA has room for all types of people to recruit new members. Read the descriptions and decide which one sounds the most like you. • Become an NRA Instructor and reap the rewards of training and mentoring new shooters. • Volunteer for NRA in your community. • Participate in one of the many women’s programs, like the Women’s Wildnerness Escape or a Women on Target Instructional Shooting Clinic. • Attend a local Friends of NRA event. • Build the next generation of hunters by signing your child up for the Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC). Summer 2019 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • 31

COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS HEAD EASTWARD Watch the Wild West come to life as this full-tilt, against the clock, western shooting and equestrian sport comes galloping into the mid-south! By Phil Spangenberger

Here come the cowboys...and cowgirls! You can watch history come to life as you thrill to the action, and the flavor of the Wild West, as the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) holds its Eastern U.S. Championship. Held at Tennessee Miller Coliseum, August 31 through September 7, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, located just a few minutes drive from historic and rockin' Nashville--"Music City, USA." “We’re going to raise the roof !” says Cheryl McLane of Tomball, Texas, a CMSA competitor since 1999. “It’s really exciting and the crowd really gets into it. I think people will flip when they see what we do with our horses.” Cowboy Mounted Shooting is an incredible event for both rider and spectator, and these factors, combined with the colorful western duds worn by the competitors have caused it to become such a popular and unique equestrian and shooting sport! If you haven't seen Cowboy Mounted Shooting, it's a fast-action mounted competition that's been dubbed by many as the "ultimate western shooting and riding challenge." Hosted by the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association, the premier national organization that governs the sport, it's sighted in for shooters and horsebackers who want to combine the romance of the Wild West and today's rodeo, with the excitement of a high speed shooting and riding competition. Just imagine riding hell bent for leather at breakneck speeds while blasting 10 balloon targets with a pair of six-shooters, as you pair fast action sixgunning with an all-out, against the clock horse race! It's a full-tilt timed event, where contestant gallop their horses through varied courses that require firing pre-1898 style single-action revolvers (rifle and shotgun competitions are also included), while putting their mounts through some rodeo style barrel racing, pole bending, a bit of reining competition, and lots of speed. Specially loaded, arena safe, blank cartridges, which can break a balloon at a distance of about 15 feet, are used in this arena sport, with 5-second penalties for each missed target, and penalties for not following the prescribed course, dropping a gun, and so on. The action is non-stop, with a rider racing through the course about every 50 seconds! Come to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and see some of the country’s top performing horses, colorfully outfitted cowboys and cowgirls, even some Civil War cavalry troopers in a special competition. Here's a sport the entire family can enjoy watching or taking part in. The CMSA’s Championship Series are held with the competitors proudly representing the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, in order to raise awareness in their fight to cure cancer with courage and grit. The Eastern U.S. Championship Is one of the CMSA's major events, and runs through the entire week--and admission is FREE! . For more information on Cowboy Mounted Shooting, contact the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association, P.O. Box 157, Roswell, NM 88202, or call 1-888-960-0003. www.cowboymountedshooting.com.

32 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • Summer 2019

NRA Announces Launch of

Community Engagement Division FAIRFAX, Va. – The National Rifle Association would like to announce its launch of the Community Engagement Division to renew its commitment to NRA members, affiliated clubs and organizations, and the shooting community. The NRA Community Engagement Division will provide NRA members, youth, and others of all ages, with educational programming and resources. Programs such as Clubs and Associations, Eddie Eagle GunSafe®, Refuse To Be A Victim®, Women’s Wilderness Escape, Youth Hunter Education Challenge, Hunters for the Hungry, Online Hunter Education and the Range Technical Team, showcase the invaluable outreach efforts that NRA General Operations provides to communities across the country. These programs offer and support a wide array of interests in the shooting sports and other educational opportunities with a local, state, and national reach. “This change comes with a renewed focus on the importance of engaging the NRA membership while supporting our affiliated clubs and organizations.” says Elizabeth Bush, Managing Director, Community Engagement. “We have the unique opportunity to truly support NRA’s mission to promote public safety, as well as to foster and promote the shooting sports.” “NRA Community Engagement is the grassroots of education, the outdoors and firearm safety” says Joseph P. DeBergalis, Jr., Executive Director of General Operations. “These programs, coupled with NRA School Shield and our outstanding civilian and law enforcement instructors, provides a wide range of opportunities to those who want to gain experience and train.” To find more about NRA’s programs and opportunities in your area, visit https://explore.nra.org/. Summer 2019 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • 33

NRA Affiliated State Associations AL STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASS'N 256-534-7968 AK OUTDOOR COUNCIL, INC. 310 K St Ste 200 Anchorage, AK 99501 907-264-6645 www.alaskaoutdoorcouncil.org AZ STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASS'N P.O. Box 301 Cave Creek, AZ 85327 480-4634636 www.asrpa.com AR RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N P.O. Box 2348 Conway, AR 72003 501-581-8762 arkansasrifle.com CA RIFLE & PISTOL ASS'N, INC. 271 E Imperial Hwy Ste 620 Fullerton, CA 92835 714-992-2772 www.crpa.org CO STATE SHOOTING ASS'N 510 Wilcox St Suite C Castle Rock, CO 80104 303-663-9339 www.cssa.org CT STATE RIFLE & REVOLVER ASS'N P.O. Box 754 North Haven, CT 06473 860-480-4600 www.csrra.com DE STATE SPORTSMEN’S ASS'N P.O. Box 94 Lincoln, DE 19960 302-764-6899 www.dssa.us FL SPORT SHOOTING ASS'N, INC. 4105 Saltwater Boulevard Tampa,FL 33615 407-701-1030 www.fssaf.wildapricot.org GA SPORT SHOOTING ASS’N 880 Marietta Highway - PO Box 351 Roswell, GA, 30075 478-955-7068 www.gssainc.org HI RIFLE ASSOCIATION PO Box 543 Kailua, HI 96734 808-306-7194 www.hawaiirifleassociation.org

ID STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N PO Box 140293 Boise, ID 83714-0293 208-452-4183 www.idahosrpa.org

MN RIFLE & REVOLVER ASS'N, INC. P.O. Box 143 Farmington, MN 55024 320-968-6898 www.mrra.org

IL STATE RIFLE ASS'N, INC. P.O. Box 637 420 E. Locust St. Chatsworth, IL 60921 815-635-3198 www.isra.org

MS STATE FIREARM OWNERS ASS'N PO Box 2486 McComb, MS 39130 601-341-8797 msfoa.tripod.com

IN STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASS'N, INC. 7527 St Rt S6W Rising Sun, IN 46240 812-534-3258 www.isrpa.org

MO SPORT SHOOTING ASS’N 6140 N. Wagon Trail Rd. Columbia, MO 65202-9658 314-440-3811 www.missourisportshooting.org

IA FIREARMS COALITION PO Box 994 Cedar Falls, IA 50613 515-423-0391 www.iowafc.org

MT RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N P.O. Box 48 Ramsay, MT 59748 406-868-4181 www.mtrpa.org

KS STATE RIFLE ASS'N P.O. Box 219 Bonner Springs, KS 66012 913-608-1910 www.ksraweb.org

NE MARKSMANSHIP ASS’N PO Box 390311 Omaha, NE 68139 402-933-4881 www.nemarksmanship.org

LEAGUE of KY SPORTSMEN, INC. 1116 Hume Rd Lexington, KY 40516 859-858-0135 www.kentuckysportsmen.com

NV FIREARMS COALITION 5575 Simmons St, Ste I-176 North Las Vegas, NV 89031 702-353-5935 www.nvfac.org

LA SHOOTING ASS'N 350 Quill Ct. Slidell, LA 70461 985-781-4174 www.louisianashooting.com

GUN OWNERS OF NH, INC. P.O. Box 847 Concord, NH 03302-0487 603-225-4664 www.gonh.org

ME PINE TREE STATE R&P ASS'N, INC 14 Pine Road Wiscasset, ME 04578 207-882-4713 www.mainerpa.org

ASS'N OF NJ R&P CLUBS, INC. 5 Sicomac Rd Ste 292 North Haledon, NJ 07508 973-764-4100 www.anjrpc.org

MD STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASS'N 341 Whitfield Rd Catonsville, MD 21228 410-838-1734 www.msrpa.org

NM SHOOTING SPORTS ASS'N, INC. P.O. Box 93433 Albuquerque, NM 87199 505-286-8449 www.nmssa.org

(MA) GUN OWNERS’ ACTION LEAGUE

PO Box 567, 361 W Main St Northboro, MA 01606 508-393-5333 www.goal.org

NY STATE R&P ASS’N, INC. 713 Columbia Pike East Greenbush, NY 12061 518-272-2654 www.nysrpa.org

MI RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N P.O. Box 71 Marshall, MI 49068-0071 269-781-1223 www.michrpa.com

NC RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N P.O. Box 4116 Pinehurst, NC 28374 910-295-7220 www.ncrpa.org

NRA Clubs• Spring & Associations 26 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION 2018

• 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 • clubs.nra.org

NRA Affiliated State Associations ND SHOOTING SPORTS ASS'N P.O. Box 228 Bismarck, ND 58502 701-255-4601 www.ndssa.org

UT STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N 2718 E. 9725 South Sandy, UT 84092-3405 801-942-6529 usrpa.org

OH RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N PO Box 1201 Morehead, KY 40351-5201 330-714-3597 www.orpa.net

VT FED'N OF SPRTMN’S CLUBS, INC. PO Box 225 Lyndonville, VT 05851 802-535-7111 www.vtfsc.org

OK RIFLE ASS'N P.O. Box 280 Maud, OK 74854-0280 405-374-8262 www.oklarifle.org

VA SHOOTING SPORTS ASS’N P.O. Box 1258 Orange, VA 22960 540-672-5848 www.myvssa.org

OR STATE SHOOTING ASS’N P.O. Box 231191 Portland, OR 97281-1161 541-409-3358 www.ossa.org

WA STATE R&P ASS'N, INC. P.O. Box 64971 University Place, WA 98464 206-427-8257 www.wsrpa.net

PA RIFLE & PISTOL ASS'N 814-375-4509 www.pennarifleandpistol.org

WV SRPA PO Box 553 Charles Town, WV 25414 304-783-5381 www.wvasrpa.org

GUN RIGHTS & SAFETY ASS'N OF PR PO Box 191919 San Juan, PR 00919-1919 787-691-1919 www.grsapr.org RI 2ⁿd AMENDMENT COALITION 928 Atwood Ave Johnston, RI 02919 401-944-1600 www.ri2nd.org GUN OWNERS OF SC P.O. Box 211 Little Mountain, SC 29075 803-345-5761 www.gosc.org

WI F.O.R.C.E. PO Box 130 Seymour, WI 54165 607-799-3539 www.wi-force.org WY STATE SHOOTING ASS'N, INC. Box 942 Worland, WY 82401 307-335-9323 www.wyossa.com

SD SHOOTING SPORTS ASS'N PO Box 3 Dell Rapids, SD 57022 605-428-5488 www.sdshootingsports.org TN SHOOTING SPORTS ASS'N, INC. 6653 Jocelyn Hollow Road Nashville, TN 37205 615-491-2633 www.tennesseeshootingsportsassociation.org

TX STATE RIFLE ASS'N 994 Hwy 71 E Bastrop, TX 78602 512-615-4200 www.tsra.com

NRA Clubs & Associations • 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 • clubs.nra.org Spring 2018 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION • 27

NRA Field Representative Directory EASTERN REGION Eastern Regional Director

Bryan Hoover

Area 1 (ME, NH, VT)

Brian Smith

Area 2 (NY) Bruce McGowan

bhoover@nrahq.org bsmith@nrahq.org bmcgowan@nrahq.org

Area 3 (CT, MA, RI, NJ, Lower NY)

Craig Decker

cdecker@nrahq.org

Area 4 (DE, Eastern PA)

Kory Enck

kenck@nrahq.org

Area 5 (Western PA)

Bob Tekavec

rtekavec@nrahq.org

Area 7 (WV, Western VA, Western MD)

Michael Swackhamer

Area 12 (Southern OH)

David Graham

dgraham@nrahq.org

Area 45 (DC, Eatern MD, Eastern VA)

David Wells

dwells@nrahq.org

Area 49 (Northern OH)

Marc Peugeot

mpeugeot@nrahq.org

Central Regional Director

Donald Higgs

dhiggs@nrahq.org

Area 13 (Northern MO)

Travis Scott

tscott@nrahq.org

mswackhamer@nrahq.org

CENTRAL REGION

Area 14 (IN) Josh Toennessen

jtoennessen@nrahq.org

Area 15 (KY) John LaRowe

jlarowe@nrahq.org

Area 17 (WI) Scott Taetsch

staetsch@nrahq.org

Area 18 (Northern IL)

Michael Huber

mhuber@nrahq.org

Area 19 (MO)

Tim Besancenez

Area 23 (IA, NE)

Tim Bacon

Area 51 (MI) Allan Herman Area 52 (Southern IL)

tbesancenez@nrahq.org tbacon@nrahq.org aherman@nrahq.org

Jeffrey White

jwhite@nrahq.org

Southern Regional Director

Al Hammond

ahammond@nrahq.org

Area 8 (Eastern NC)

Garland "Tra" Storey

SOUTHERN REGION gstorey@nrahq.org

Area 9 (SC) VACANT Area 10 (GA) Neely Raper Area 11 (Northern FL)

Bret Eldridge

Area 16 (LA) Chad Bowen Area 22 (AL, MS)

Bobby Berthelot

Area 42 (Western NC)

Doug Merrill

nraper@nrahq.org beldridge@nrahq.org cbowen@nrahq.org bberthelot@nrahq.or dmerrill@nrahq.org

Area 43 (TN) Mike Webb

mwebb@nrahq.org

Area 48 (Southern FL)

tknight@nrahq.org

• Spring 2018 28 • NRA CLUB CONNECTION NRA Clubs & Associations

Tom Knight

• 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 • clubs.nra.org

NRA Field Representative Directory MID WEST REGION Mid West Regional Director

Tom Ulik

tulik@nrahq.org

Area 20 (OK) Darren DeLong

ddelong@nrahq.org

Area 24 (KS) VACANT Area 25 (Northern TX)

Kevin Post

kpost@nrahq.org

Area 44 (Eastern TX)

Liz Foley

efoley@nrahq.org

Area 26 (Southern TX)

Tyler Ward

tward@nrahq.org

Area 27 (NM) Michael Guilliams Area 30 (CO) Brad Dreier

mguilliams@nrahq.org bdrier@nrahq.org

Area 39 (AR) Erica Willard-Dunn

ewillard@nrahq.org

Area 47 (Western TX)

Jack Cannon

jcannon@nrahq.org

Brad Kruger

bkruger@nrahq.org

WESTERN REGION Western Regional Director

Area 21 (MN) Eric Linder

elinder@nrahq.org

Area 28 (MT) Joseph Crismore

jcrismore@nrahq.org

Area 29 (WY) Logan Duff

lduff@nrahq.org

Area 33 (ID) Steve Vreeland

svreeland@nrahq.org

Area 34 (HI, OR)

Mike Carey

mcarey@nrahq.org

Area 38 (Southern AK)

Greg Stephens

gstephens@nrahq.org

Area 40 (WA) Michael Herrera

mherrera@nrahq.org

Area 41 (ND, SD)

Doug DeLaRoi

ddelaroi@nrahq.org

Area 53 (Northern AK)

Josh Toennessen

jtoennessen@nrahq.org

SOUTHWESTERN REGION Southwestern Regional Director

Jason Quick

Area 31 (AZ) Winston Pendelton

jquick@nrahq.org wpendelton@nrahq.org

Area 32 (UT, Eastern NV)

Jim Reardon

jreardon@nrahq.org

Area 35 (Northern CA)

Daniel Wilhelm

dwilhelm@nrahq.org

Area 36 (Southern CA)

Mike Davis

mdavis@nrahq.org

Area 37 (Central CA, Southern NV) Steve Wilson

swilson@nrahq.org

Area 46 (Eastern CA)

Cole Beverly

cbeverly@nrahq.org

Area 50 (Mid California)

Sheila Boer

sboer@nrahq.org

• NRA CLUB CONNECTION • 29 Spring 2018 NRA Clubs & Associations • 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 • clubs.nra.org

Nonprofit Org U.S. POSTAGE PAID Dulles, VA Permit No. 67

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 11250 Waples Mill Road Fairfax, VA 22030

RANGE TECHNICAL TEAM

2019 RANGE DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS CONFERENCE

Maintaining America’s existing shooting ranges and developing new ones are one of the NRA’s top priorities to ensure the survival of the shooting sports. Created to provide an extension of NRA Headquarters to range owners and operators at the local level, the NRA Range Technical Team is a nationwide network of volunteers trained in the field of shooting range development, design, and operations.

Our Fall Conference will be in Dallas, Texas October 5-7, 2019. The conference is designed to educate potential and current range owners and operators in identifying potential problems associated with range development, environmental issues, and safety. Attendees will receive a multidisciplinary perspective on major topics, such as:

•

Business Planning

•

Sound Abatement

•

Range Safety

•

EPA Lead Standards

•

Range Equipment Costs

•

Law Enforcement

• Grants

•

Master Planning

•

NRA Programs

• Construction

•

Range Maintenance

• Insurance